Career Scavenger Hunt Instructions

Part I: NCDA Scavenger Hunt

1. What is the relationship of the NCDA to the American Counseling Association? The relationship of the NCDA to the American Counseling Association is that the “NCDA is a founding division of the American Counseling Association and collaborates with the ACA to jointly represent the interest of counselors in congress and in the national legislative process” (NCDA, 2015). 2. What is the purpose of the NCDA?

The purpose of the NCDA is to “promote the career development of all people over the life span” (NCDA, 2015). 3. What are your personal results after taking the Career Decision Making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ)? Note: Once you are at the CDDQ launch page, you can opt to take either the CDDQ or the CDDC (Coping with Career Decision-Making Difficulties). My personal results after completing the CDDQ stated I am thorough and systematic when gathering information (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). However, I would not waste time on redundant information (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). The results stated I make decisions analytically and divide the information into aspects to evaluate the pros and cons in order to choose what’s best for me (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014).

The results believe I believe my decisions will affect my future, meaning I have control over my fate (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). The results suggest I take external circumstances into consideration to develop a much more informed decision-making processes (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). The CDDQ results also say I invest a lot in the decision-making process and I do not procrastinate (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). I also consult with others, however I do not desire to please others (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). Also, I desire to solely rely on myself, instead of others (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014). This can lead to greater anxiety because leaning on others can provide support and comfort during the decision-making process (Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, 2014).

4. What is the purpose of the Motivational Assessment of Personal Potential (MAPP)? The purpose of the Motivational Assessment of Personal Potential is to “help individuals match themselves to all the careers and tasks they are best suited for” (Neils, 2015). 5. Find the website that will take you to the Occupation Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Find the Occupational employment projections to 2022 link. What are the anticipated fastest growing fields? The anticipated fastest growing fields are “healthcare, healthcare support, construction, and personal care fields” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). 6. What is the purpose of America’s CareerInfoNet?

The purpose of America’s CareerInfoNet “helps people make better, more informed career decisions. Check education, knowledge, skills and abilities, and licensing against requirements for most occupations. Search for employer contact information nationwide, cost of living data, and call up state profiles with labor market conditions” (Careeronestop, 2015). 7. According to CareerInfoNet, what are the top five fastest growing occupations for persons with a bachelor’s degree? According to the CareerInfoNet, the top five fastest growing occupations for people with a bachelor’s degree is Interpreters and Translators, Information Security Analyst, Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, and Geographers (Careeronestop, 2015). 8. Using salary.com (NCDA has a link), what is the base salary range for a licensed professional counselor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana? Using salary.com, the base salary range for a licensed professional counselor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is $32, 257 a year (Salary.com, n.d.).

Part II: Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) Scavenger Hunt

Scenario 1: A client, who has recently lost his job as an automobile dealer, is interested in exploring other career opportunities and has narrowed his search to those found below. Specifically, he is interested in a job that “pays well.” Which of the following occupations would you recommend and why?

After considering my client’s desires, as well as his skills, I would advise that he pursues a career in investment banking. My client has sales,
management, and customer service skills from his pervious position as an automobile dealer, which will aid him selling securities and commodities as an investment banker. My client would also receive decent financial compensation as an investment banker. The median pay for investment banking in 2012 was 71,720 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). However, my client would have to receive a Bachelors Degree for an entry-level position (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Although, all of the prospective career the client suggested requires pursuit of higher education. Lastly, a position as a “financial service sales agent is projected to grow 11 percent from 2012 to 2022”, creating a demand in employment (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

Scenario 2: A client who is just starting college is interested in exploring career opportunities that will best ensure finding a job after graduation. Specifically, she has narrowed her choices to 1 of the following careers. What are the employment outlooks for each of these occupations?

The client did not specify what specific field of counseling she is interested in. Nonetheless, mental health and marriage and family counseling is expected to grow 29 percent faster than all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Insurance is expected to giver treatment for mental health issues, which will increase the demand for mental health counselors (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). School and career outlooks “are projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). School enrollments will rise, creating a demand for counselors (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Although, “employment growth for school and career counselors will depend on state and local government budgets” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). A career as a photographer has projected a 4 percent growth from 2012-2022 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). However due to the decrees in cost of digital cameras and increasing number of amateur and hobbyists photographers, growth will be limited (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

Although, self employed photographers will grow up to 4 percent due to the need for portraits and corporate advertising (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). However, declines in the newspaper industry will reduce demand for news photographers as well (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Occupational Therapist is expected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) states that a career in occupational therapy is expected to increase similar to the “baby boom generation”, based upon medical advances and insurance (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

This field shows a lot of growth and advancement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) states “Childcare workers held about 1.3 million jobs in 2012. They are employed in childcare centers, preschools, public schools, and private homes” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Seeming that industries hiring child care workers will always have a demand for child day care services, elementary and secondary, and religious services (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

Scenario 3: A client who is just graduating from high school is looking for a career that will provide the most flexibility in a work schedule. Specifically, your client has narrowed his choices to 1 of the following. Which offers the highest possibility of a flexible work schedule?

Flexible work schedules are those, which the employee chooses their time of arrival and departure from their work place (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.). Out of a career as a registered nurse, tour guide, bank teller, and private detective, a position as a bank teller. Bank tellers have the opportunity to work full time or part time (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

Scenario 4: A client who has been a trucker for 15 years and has recently suffered a back injury is interested in finding a career that requires little physical risk. He has narrowed his interest to 1 the following. Which career requires the least physical risk?

The career, which requires the least physical risk, is a motorcycle repair technician. A chef has a high rate of injury and illness, similar to a landscaper (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). “Security guards have a higher rate of injury and illness than the national average” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). A security guard position is not ideal for this client because he would have to be on guard for potential threats all the time (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). As oppose to a motorcycle repair technician, which generally work in well ventilated but noisy repair shops (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). The most hazardous situation a small machines tech will face has to repair in poor weather conditions (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014).

Scenario 5: A client who is a skilled artist and has an Associate’s degree from the local community college, is interested in becoming a medical illustrator. He wants to know the following:

Medical illustrators need a bachelor’s degree, combining courses in premed and art (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) says, majority of medical illustrators choose to get a Masters degree in medical illustration (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). According to the median annual wages of medical illustrators in 2012, they received 44, 850 annual (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2013, December). Occupational employment projections to 2022 : Monthly Labor Review: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/occupational-employment-projections-to-2022.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014, January 8). Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/securities-commodities-and-financial-services-sales-agents.htm Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire. (2014). CDDQ – Career Guidance and Decision Making. Retrieved from http://kivunim.huji.ac.il/eng-quest/dme.html Careeronestop. (2015). Welcome to America’s Career InfoNet. Retrieved from http://www.acinet.org Careeronestop. (2015). Fastest-Growing Occupations – America’s Career InfoNet. Retrieved from http://www.acinet.org/oview1.asp?next=oview1&Level=edu3&optstatus=&jobfam=&id=1&nodeid=3&soccode=&stfips=&ShowAll= NCDA. (2015). NCDA | Welcome to the